Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

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Read

Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

A Psalm of Asaph.

The mighty one, God the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.

Our God comes and does not keep silence,
before him is a devouring fire,
and a mighty tempest all around him.

He calls to the heavens above
and to the earth, that he may judge his people:

“Gather to me my faithful ones,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”

The heavens declare his righteousness,
for God himself is judge.Selah

“Hear, O my people, and I will speak,
O Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.

Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
your burnt offerings are continually before me.

“Mark this, then, you who forget God,
or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to deliver.

Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me;
to those who go the right way
I will show the salvation of God.”

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Reflect

The passage today talks about sacrifice and intention. If we keep reading in the passage, we would find God saying “I made everything”. Since God is Creator of all, He does not need our offerings or our sacrifices but He desires our thanksgiving and gratitude. He wants our dedication and devotion to the LORD our GOD.

When I was young I sacrificed everything to the altar of sports; all my blood, sweat and tears went toward sports. I gave the first fruits of my life to sports. Sadly they were not directed toward bringing the LORD our God glory but myself and I feel that that is not uncommon. Perhaps this is not the case for those who take the time to read these e-votions but to many in the world around us this is true. So often we allow a small compartmentalized part of time to God but the majority of our time is devoted to our passion or interests with little thought of God. The amazing thing about God is it is not particularly the offering we give which is significant but the intention behind the gift.

When we do all things to the glory of God, then our unique gifts, our desires, and our passions become a true offering because they come under the dominion of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives. Those things such as sports, work, and hobbies that once were separate in our lives become a more full and robust offering to God because we view them through God’s eyes and we start doing them for God’s glory and not our own. God ultimately wants the unique contribution we can make to the world, not a generic one anyone can make.

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Pray

God we ask that you would turn our hearts and desires to you we give you the best of our lives to use for your good will Amen.

Go with God!